Comics UK

starscape wrote:I've never been too bothered about condition myself. Pages missing is annoying but, over and above that, it's not a problem if it's an issue I want. One of my big comic buying regrets is not getting the first appearance of Marvelman due to a rip in the back cover. Now I think, who cares? I didn't have it, I wanted it, so buy it. Probably never see one for a reasonable price again.

I wouldn't want comics in tatty or dirty condition but the one thing that really puts me off are comics from a smoker, as the stink lingers on the paper. Some sellers specify their items are from a smoke free home so that's good. Others don't, so it's a gamble.

Problem is, many sellers on eBay are not well versed in comic grading, so what they consider "excellent" or "very good" might be what most of us would call poor. As we've said before, the "good condition for its age" comment is always one to be wary of. Comics don't crease or rip themselves, regardless of their age.

Bought 16 issues of Battle on eBay for £15, which arrived today. All early ones from 1975. Very nice condition. What a great comic it was in its first year. Really dynamic covers and tightly written scripts. It owed a lot to Warlord in its style though didn't it? (To put it mildly). The web offset printing of Battle gave a great richness to the colours though.

I didn't buy Battle at the time as a) I didn't like war comics, and b) I was leaving school so I gave up most British comics for a few years ( the exceptions being Vulcan, Action, 2000AD and the Marvel UK weeklies) but now I see what I missed. Smashing comic! I started buying it regularly in 1981 but, apart from Charley's War of course, I don't think the comic had the same vitality as those first issues.

A great comic, as was Warlord. I would say my favourite periods for both were a little after the opening set. Maybe a couple of years into each. But Charley's War and Kampfgruppe Fallen were two of UK comics very best stories.

Hi, Lew, are you collecting Battle from its early days? I managed to buy the early issues in a series of bundles - 5 issues for a tenner at a time. From the same buyer, I quickly bought the first year in one go - all in great condition apart from a newsagent name on every copy but, I add with glee, were easily removed with an eraser - they were all pencilled. All the interior booklets were still attached. When Battle changed to "2000 ad" style, that's where the condition of certain copies gets dodgy. It's the same with Action. Remember Starlord? You can always ensure a great collection without much expense due to the quality of paper. By the way, do you have any inside knowledge of why certain titles were printed in such a manner before being relegated to a lower standard of printing? Was it due to sales or something unexpected?

Hi, Starscape, I'm also collecting Warlord in tandem with Battle, and I do feel that Battle always had a grittier feel to their stories. I couldn't imagine the likes of Darkie' Mob appearing in Warlord at all but, at the same time, Warlord did have its merits - it told solid, engaging stories that were a notch above Victor; although, I did love "Cadman" from the latter. Ah, the nostalgia

Back on subject, I purchased and received 6 issues of Action 1977 - brilliant condition and cost me just under £50 including postage. Yeah, I know, quite costly. Don't know where Glastopopcult gets them from, but they are in great nick. On a cheaper note, I did manage to buy three Marvel UK specials - Marvel Superheroes and the Occult special 1981, Blockbuster Winter Special 1981, and Spiderman Winter Special 1981 for a pound each plus combined postage. That was a bargain. Swings and roundabouts, I always say. I would have paid at least a fiver each for those Marvel Specials.

geoff42 wrote:Hi, Lew, are you collecting Battle from its early days? I managed to buy the early issues in a series of bundles - 5 issues for a tenner at a time. From the same buyer, I quickly bought the first year in one go - all in great condition apart from a newsagent name on every copy but, I add with glee, were easily removed with an eraser - they were all pencilled. All the interior booklets were still attached. When Battle changed to "2000 ad" style, that's where the condition of certain copies gets dodgy. It's the same with Action. Remember Starlord? You can always ensure a great collection without much expense due to the quality of paper. By the way, do you have any inside knowledge of why certain titles were printed in such a manner before being relegated to a lower standard of printing? Was it due to sales or something unexpected?

I probably won't collect any more of them Geoff, but those 16 issues for £15 were too irresistible.

I bought Starlord when it was published, and have only read them once so they're all near mint. Must read them again one day.

Fallng sales were pretty much the main reason why paper quality dropped, although sometimes it depends on other factors and what deal they get on paper stock. In the case of Scorcher, paper quality improved after the first year or so, but I think that was because IPC wanted to attract more footie fans by using colour photo features.

Regarding printers, Southernprint, based in Poole, who used to print Whizzer and Chips and the early issues of Scorcher, are still going strong today and print Toxic amongst other mags.

I guess in those times, the thought of collectability would have been the last thing on the publisher's mind. Such a shame. But still, the likes of certain ebay dealers offer incredible condition of past copies of particular titles - god bless them.

geoff42 wrote:Hi, Starscape, I'm also collecting Warlord in tandem with Battle, and I do feel that Battle always had a grittier feel to their stories. I couldn't imagine the likes of Darkie' Mob appearing in Warlord at all but, at the same time, Warlord did have its merits - it told solid, engaging stories that were a notch above Victor; although, I did love "Cadman" from the latter. Ah, the nostalgia

Cadman was in Victor and was beautifully illustrated by Mike Dorey, who now does illustrations and can be commissioned for a very reasonable rate.

Stopped focusing on Christmas to nip in to some charity shops.The following are magazines rather than comics but I imagine they did employ comic artists.


WORLD OF WONDER incorporating Tell Me Why 9th may 1970
WORLD OF WONDER incorporating Tell Me Why 4th july 1970
WORLD OF WONDER incorporating Tell Me Why 20th june1970
WORLD OF WONDER 26 sept 1970
WORLD OF WONDER 3rd october 1970
WORLD OF WONDER 17th oct 1970
WORLD OF WONDER incorporating Treasure 23rd jan 1971
WORLD OF WONDER incorporating Treasure 17th apr 1971
WORLD OF WONDER incorporating Treasure 27th nov 1971
WORLD OF WONDER 29th jan 1972

10 × 10p each =£1 spent

They had more but some had pictures cut out and anyway I had got enough for a representation of that particular magazine.

hi, col, sorry I didn't make it clear as regards "Cadman". I know the character is from Victor. A good character, as well; he was a worse anti hero than Judge Dredd. Why? Because he just wanted to get away... like most of us would in his situation.

geoff42 wrote:hi, col, sorry I didn't make it clear as regards "Cadman". I know the character is from Victor. A good character, as well; he was a worse anti hero than Judge Dredd. Why? Because he just wanted to get away... like most of us would in his situation.

That's OK Geoff. I have seen others misplace him, so I always try to correct the point so that others who read these BBs in years to come get the correct knowledge. I always liked the fact that Tom Smith was the working-class hero in the stories.

And he was the one that showed true courage under fire, but could never say anything or his family would suffer.

Slim Pickings at the ephemera fair - not a comic to be seen apart from a box of modern Marvels. I picked up 3 Book and Magazine Collectors for a pound each with articles on Dudley Watkins, Denis McLoughlin and The Rivals of Eagle Comic. Also picked up Denis Gifford's Comic Price Guide from 1982 for a pound. I already have it but couldn't resist a spare at that price. I also got the first Puffin Annual for a pound. All from the same stall.

Three interesting things from the charity shops this morning, that I'd never seen/heard of before...

-Super Duper Supermen! Comic Book Heroes from the Forties and Fifties! by Denis Gifford (Nice big colour book, includes sections on Captain Crash, Electro Girl, Powerman, Skybolt Kid, Streamline Comics, Masterman, Superthriller, Captain Universe, Steve Samson, Marvelman, Quicksilver etc)

-Space Aces! Comic Book Heroes from the Forties and Fifties! by Denis Gifford (similar to the other book, only SF-oriented, includes such things as Pete Mangan, Space Kingley, The New Spaceman, Captain Future, Dynamic Thrills, Super-Sonic, Captain Valiant, Space Ace, Space Commander Kerry etc)

-Little Star 1977, a DC Thomson annual aimed at younger kids. Baby Crockett's on the cover (and inside it as well), along with Pip the Penguin (who I recognise from Bimbo) and lots of other cutesy things. Full colour all the way through, which is nice. Not usually my "thing" but for 20p, at least it's nice to look at.

I received a message asking me to show a scan of the Gifford Price Guide. I also add a scan of an internal page spread to show how basic it is.